JillyBeanz

Because the base is made of wood we were worried about the wood being damaged by moisture (food droppage, water splashes etc) so my husband rang a local "plastics place" and got them to cut a bit of perspex to line the bottom of the stand! I'm still putting newspaper over the perspex, which is over the wood, but I think that it will protect it very well! Here's the latest photos of Harvey on his stand: and

Ah yes, Pookie has those little red feathers doesn't she Jill ~ that's pretty distinguishing isn't it. Harvey's just a grey thing with a red tail. I've thought of a way I could distinguish him though - give him a door frame - I'm sure his beak would be through it in nanoseconds! :laugh:

OMG! What a gross subject (but funnily enough one that each and every one of us can relate to!!) I've noticed that Harvey's poop smells (and changes colour) with palm oil. Obviously the fatty element of it comes straight through him and when I go to clean his playstand after a poop (I'm very anal - poop doesn't stay long in my house) I can smell the palm oil. I also swear I can smell broccoli after he's had a good dose of that too - something my husband refutes! I suppose anything that is an alteration to dietary measures will always smell differently - and I don't think this is anything to worry about One thing is for sure - a transition from seed to pellet is a good thing!

I would like to hope that I could recognise Harvey, and after spending a year nearly with him I would hope to recognise his body language rather than his actual physical appearance. As you know, Harvey's not a talker, so I couldn't rely on the chat - but there is a "thing" between us, when he knows he's done something wrong and I stare at him - he goes "wooh" - a bit like an owl! :laugh: Oh, and just to add - after today when he's had me running up the stairs after him about 50 times, I'm not sure I'd let on that he was mine <br><br>Post edited by: JillyBeanz, at: 2010/02/23 17:45

I don't think I saw the same baby twice when I went to "choose" Harvey!! I went three times - and each time I swear it was a different bird! Put it this way - I wouldn't have chosen the one I ended up with (only joking Harvey)! It must be lovely when that little baby chooses you - but unfortunately - I definitely wasn't "chosen"!!

What a lovely video! It's fantastic that Caco will fly to you upon command - a very important thing to teach your grey! Well done Caco

You don't say whether it is a grey you are buying - the advice I am giving is based on a grey - but probably is the same for any birds. Buy the largest size cage you can afford! Greys need tons of space to climb around. The cage should have at least some sides with horizontal bars, for ease of climbing. It should have a fairly large cage door. This makes it easier to move the parrot in and out of the cage and to clean the inside of the cage. It should have food and water containers that can be changed and filled from the outside. Makes things a lot easier when your bird is in residence! Watch out for the catch on the door! Greys are strong enough and clever enough to undo some cage doors. I've got a quick link through my door mechanism - Harvey did get out of the cage early on! Many parrots are kept in cages that are far too small, therefore when you purchase a cage make sure that it is large. The cage should be big enough for the Grey to completely stretch and flap its wings without obstruction. Good luck!

That's great news! You must have been so pleased - what a good little boy Indy is! To use "are you okay" in context is fantastic too! Little steps and they say - and it looks like you are making headway! Well done

Summer you should weigh him in the morning after his morning bomb and this would give an indication of malnourishment. If he is losing weight this is where you would be able to tell. I can feel Harvey's keel bone too, but there's a good couple of plump breast pieces on either side to compensate. Corn has no nutritional value whatsoever for your grey (as it hasn't for us either). You need to start giving him a good varied diet of veggies - greens are the best such as broccoli, kale etc. Offer him a different variety of vegetable. As for the vet saying that you should only feed him three times a day - I'm not one to go against professionals - but what a load of rubbish! Birds don't have set mealtimes the way we have, and obviously in the wild forage constantly for their food - you are right in giving Shaka Zulu food throughout the day. Don't worry if you offer a full pound of veggies and he "doesn't eat much" - they don't - they waste most. I could feed a family of five with what goes in the bin from Harvey's "nibbling". Just keep an eye on him - I know you are a very caring parront and any changes, whip him to the AV.

Oh that's great news Beau - new words! She's jealous that you can speak - says we are about the same age and that I'm a thicko and a mute! Well, I mightn't say anything in front of her - but when I'm on the telephone to my mates - hah! That'll show her when the bill comes in! So, you're a bit like me too - they say I'm a boy too - but haven't had the conclusive evidence! I'll show them one day too - they thought that Spiky was a boy for 11 years - until "he" laid an egg! Watch this space!!!!

It's unbelievable how a feathered grey thing changes your life isn't it. Your sentiments are shared by us all. The thing I like is that you can share this with our family on this forum - you go out into the street and tell them this and they'll think you are mad!! Great photo of the pair of you

Ha Ha! That's like that good old joke when a man turns to his wife and says "hey, do you fancy "it" tonight" and she says "yeah, but not with you"!!! You can't win you blokes! Thank god you're hear to kick though!!! :laugh: :laugh:

bigbird519 wrote: That's the joy of a flighted bird! Something moves, so do they!! You'll soon watch Mojo gaining confidence by hanging from toys etc - and those toys don't stay in one place - Mojo will learn to re-steady himself in these sort of circumstances! Never seen this thread before - what a great DIY expert you are babypiggy!

Oh Ram - they are adorable!!!! Look at the difference in such a short time! Is that little one a lot younger? He doesn't look like he's as advanced as the other two? Thanks for sharing these - I love them!!

Joolesgreyuk wrote: It's already happened! They culled them last year. There's two sides to it though - they were destroying vast amounts of arable farming land etc and putting farmers into bankruptcy. So, although I love our feathered friends, I do understand that they can't be allowed to wreak havoc too

Beau - you've missed a trick! He wanted a green one - you could have offered him Argyle!! The moment has passed now - you've missed the boat :laugh: Ana Grey - you and Sully are so lucky! If my mum were to mist me outside she'd just need a lolly pop stick and I'd be a popsicle! It's freeeeeezzzzzing here! Well, back to me! It's strange round here - she hasn't gone out today - so I'm getting more out of cage time than ever!!! Whoops, here she comes - laters xxx

Hey Spock ~ you know that's my favourite shot of you ever - I told you that a long time ago. Hey - this is like one of those "reverse diets" - stick your photo on the refrigerator, take one look at yourself and instead of saying "carrot stick", say "cream cake"!!!! It's supposed to work for humans the other way round, but hell - it's worth a try! Glad to hear you've held your weight for a few days too

Well, Harvey is now 14 months and says nothing! He mumbles hello (but it's not too clear), but that's about it! I think I'm going to have the forum's only mute parrot!!! His mimickry is absolutely fantastic - picks up everything - just chooses not to talk

I've seen these two before - I think they are fabulous! They have clearly been brought up together - and it's just too cute!! Thanks for sharing these

# 2 very young it

luvparrots wrote: Ha Ha! Too right Janet - we'll just have to pick on the "unwilling" ones too - just to make things level :laugh:

You'll have a great time when you can take him outside - it's such a pleasure - and it's funny when people ask me if Harvey is a pigeon!!! This is another triumph for the Aviator (I'm like their unofficial cheerleader - and you'll be pleased to know that Steve Hartman (the inventor) is known to browse our forum)!! So, he'll be pleased there is another happy camper!

The only thing I would say is.....don't count your chickens! Harvey was exactly like this at that age - and a couple of months later turned into a marathon to get it on him. There's a thread around here about how stressed I was (ended up in tears) and the fact I was going to give up and couldn't understand the change in personality in such a short space of time! I'm not going to pretend he loves getting it on, but is a little more accepting of it nowadays (although I haven't had him in it for months now due to the bad weather here in the UK) but once out in the garden he loves it! Just keep putting it on him, hopefully you won't have the experience I did

Gosh that is so critically endangered it is unbelievable. What a gorgeous bird - I am so grateful to you for publishing these weekly - I'm really enjoying learning about all the species of Amazon. Thanks

I think this is absolutely hilarious and the funny thing is - it is a true letter that a bank manager received - FROM A 92 YEAR OLD LADY!! Go on grandma!!!! :laugh: